Kaelus's jaw tightened, his hand automatically coming up to shield the back of her head, his violet eyes flashing with a protective glare directed at the Baron, as if daring the man to agree with her self-condemnation.
He reached up, using his thumbs to wipe the tears from her cheeks.
"You did not let it happen," Kaelus stated firmly. "The monster chose to inflict cruelty. You made a choice to stop him. If you had not acted exactly when you did, that boy would already be dead. The other forty children in that cage would be dead. You saved them, Seraphina. You did not fail."
Seraphina sniffled, her lower lip trembling. "But... but he was bleeding so much, Papa. His chest was broken."
Kaelus's expression softened into a look of gentle reassurance.
"He is alive, Seraphina," Kaelus revealed quietly.
Seraphina's eyes widened, the tears stopping instantly. "What?"
